The term, 'Soaking in God'

[The Bearen]

I have noticed a trend in some christian circles of people 'soaking in God'.

Some have known to just lie on the floor for days soaking Gods presence, when I use to go to John Wimber conferances it was known as carpet time.

Now I am beggining to doubt whether this is truly from God , to me its almost new age if your not careful.

I could be wrong , would love to hear others thoughts on this.

Dave

[stormtrooper]

Sounds kinda hokey to me. Laying on the ground for several days? God knows I got a family to look out for. Hard to put food in their mouths if I'm laying on the floor.

[willyday97]

They only way I know how to "soak up" is by reading the Word of God. :thumb

[2Tone]

Now I'm all about several days of all day intense worship and reading of the Word of God. But laying on the ground doing nothing? :twitch

[savedandhappy1]

There is a show called Catching the Fire or something like that, and they hold meetings to teach you how to soak in God. All I will say is the few shows I saw were interesting. They will send you lesson books if you can't come to their meetings.

If I remember correctly they slay you in the spirit and then you soak in God, or something like that.

I agree I am very cautious about it.

[CountryBumpkin]

I have not heard this term before. After doing a quick search it seems to be extra biblical and something to stay away from.
This is from a new age site:-
Soaking Prayer

Soaking is intimate time spent with Christ. It's you and I enjoying just being with Him. It's about returning to our first love. There's a deep need in every one of us to be close to God/Goddess :freaked


This one settles it for me. Seems like this "soaking" was started at and is promoted from none other than John Arnott of the Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship. :doh

Part of what they say:-
"This allows the person receiving prayer to relax and be less anxious about what might happen if he falls. Soaking prayer is something that you can also do in your own home. You can be alone, or just with your spouse or children, or you can invite several friends over who can take turns praying for one another."
And also.....
"If you are interested in finding out how you and your friends can start a Catch the Fire Soaking Prayer Center in your home, office or church, email us at ........We are offering a starter kit to get you going right away. We also offer a one week training course in Toronto where we can train you and pray for an impartation of the Holy Spirit so you can begin. May you be filled with all the fullness of God. " :faint

[4everHis]

I think I understand the concept BUT,
like so many other Christian things that come down the pike,
this one can tend to play the I'm more in the spirit of the Lord
than you game.
That's where I find any fault.
I am all for soaking up and basking in the spirit and the glow of the Lord.

[Rebecki]

Why can't people just read the Word and be in fellowship with the Lord and leave it at that? The Lord will impart those mountain top times in his time, not ours. We shouldn't be trying to manifest them on our own.

Humans are always looking for an experience, when the Word alone is an experience in itself. No need for anything extra.

[markofthebest]

This one settles it for me. Seems like this "soaking" was started at and is promoted from none other than John Arnott of the Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship. :doh




Me too. Run from this stuff as fast as you can.

[stormtrooper]

Why can't people just read the Word and be in fellowship with the Lord and leave it at that? The Lord will impart those mountain top times in his time, not ours. We shouldn't be trying to manifest them on our own.

Humans are always looking for an experience, when the Word alone is an experience in itself. No need for anything extra.

Well said. This kind of stuff sounds like a self-inflicted spiritual experience. In my walk I've never had any extraordinary experiences, visions, audible voice, etc. I just read the Word and pray and have had prayers answered and needs met and am happy with that. Maybe I'm a boring Christian, but I feel that if God is going to zap me with some extra does of the Spirit it's going to be according to His will and not some "practice" like laying on the floor for days on end.

[busterdog]

Conceptually, we know where they are going. The language is, to me, ham handed. I don't like innovations that add to scripture. Many a theologian is just as awkward for the same reason. There are two ideas here:
1. Be still and know that I am God.
2. God is love.
Many people in the church do not take the time to appreciate and receive love from the Lord. As a consequence, many do not really act like (believe) it is something they should receive. WHat good are you in life if you can't come with the attitude that the most merciful source of love in the universe loves you? No. I don't like "soak." Maybe some are "soaking" in something else. But I think this is not witchcraft, but is something the Church needs to receive.

[kristine]

Interesting and a little strange. I don't know how I feel about this. My little red flags are going up; I will say that much.

If I laid on my back, I'd be "soaking" in sleep mode! ZZzzzzzzzzz :laugh

[The Bearen]

Amen Rebecki

I remember hearing 'Brian Flynn' a former new ager who said the same thing he said , 'We can't initiate an experiance from God ,things have to be initiated by God.

And this is what worries me if you look in the Bible the prophets did'nt have experiances from God every five minutes plus when God spoke through them things happened prophiceis were fulfilled not unlike now where we have many people claiming to be true prophets but have a track record of wrong prophecies.

Dave :):

[His Bride]

Seems like more apostacy to me.

[jamessidney]

is it wrong to say i'd feel much much closer to God alone skiing through the mountains or hiking in the wilderness wilderness, than laying on carpet? (or tile. or hardwood).

perhaps someday i'll have a similar experience, but for now i'll keep BUSY BUSY!

[Joel]

is it wrong to say i'd feel much much closer to God alone skiing through the mountains or hiking in the wilderness wilderness, than laying on carpet? (or tile. or hardwood).

perhaps someday i'll have a similar experience, but for now i'll keep BUSY BUSY!


[this quote in particular] Reminds me of Martha and Mary.


Martha kept 'busy busy', but Mary spent some alone time with her Master at His feet.. and blessed Him, and was blessed for it in return.




However, I don't think these 'rooms' are quite right, either.

I can maybe see the [a] point, but it feels 'generated' by man from first impressions, rather than letting God flow.

[antsinmypants]

I remember hearing 'Brian Flynn' a former new ager who said the same thing he said , 'We can't initiate an experiance from God ,things have to be initiated by God.

Yes. We are the bride. Y'shua initiates, we reciprocate.

The only "Soaking in" Other than reading the scriptures (Biblically) would be Meditation on the scriptures... which literally means this. Going into your prayer closet (tallit) and sitting/standing/laying somewhere reciting the scriptures back to yourself until you have them memorized by heart.... and prayer...

[Pagal]

Funny I should see this post. My sons school is housed in the same building as a Methodist Church. They are well, very spirited Methodists :lol and I found the church to be very charasmatic. I have gotton to know the Pastor and staff and they are indeed lovely , lovely people and show a real and true love for Christ.

However, I did see they had the santuary "dark" one weeknight and it was called "soaking" prayer..............from this same ministry you speak of.

It's from the Toronto people? uh oh.......was wondering what this was about.